http://www.newzjunky.com/

This is our local news site in our part of the NY-23 Congressional District.

It has certainly been interesting seeing all the national attention to this sleepy rural district. I would be very surprised if it ends up this way (Owens-D) is shown with an early lead. This is a heavily Republican area. Hillary Hate was rampant in the 90's and during last year's primary race. Surprisingly President Obama carried the district in the election, and a Democrat who had previously served as Assemblyman (lower house of State Legislature) was elected to the State Senate. I think that was a special election,too, though and involved lots of money from both parties from "downstate".

This district has not seen a Democratic Party Congressman since about 1870. The voter registration by party is heavily Republican. There is a solid base of the radical right here. But it is a very large district geographically and encompasses some more liberal college towns, etc. People here are also heavily dependent on Federal and State largesse. The major employer and driver of economic activity in this part of the district is Ft. Drum. We have chronically high unemployment and our manufacturing has disappeared over the last 30 years.

I make no predictions. It is a very interesting political phenomenon,but I don't think it has the kind of import or meaning as a bellweather for national politics in 2010 that the media wants to portray. The people here are unique (just like everywhere else.) Scozzafava had certain weaknesses both in her campaign, and vulnerability with regard to her husband's business problems locally. I don't think she was "ready for prime time" when the national attention focused on this race. On the other hand I don't think any of the candidates, or any one else locally expected the kind of attention the race got.

On the down side, we have received glossy mailings from all the candidates daily which fill our paper recycling bins, and as many as five political phone calls an hour, the last as late as 8:15 this evening. We'll all be glad when it is over.

Thank you for your kind attention.

THOTH

(You prompted me to check and conclude: apparently not--her seat was NY-20.)

So, why IS there an off-year election in that district? Somebody die in office? Kicked upstairs with political appointment?

No and yes. Former congressman John McHugh R was appointed by Pres. Obama to be Secy of the Army! Of course he had done a lot with the development of Ft. Drum, home of the 10th Mountain Division, which has seen more action in Iraq and Afghanistan than I think any other military post. I was also a good political move. Freeing up the district for a potential Dem win in a special election. BTW, Owens-D is projected to be the winner by Fox News! with 85% of vote in.

http://www.newzjunky.com/

Thanks for your very kind reply.

NY-23 is a HUGE geographical area. I recently saw a map, can't fnd the link, but it has been described as larger than the state of Vermont. I have been amused at all the commentary from people who have no idea what they are talking about, just what they get in the media, esp. the conservatives with Fox News, etc. Michelle Malkin calling Dede Scozzafava a radical leftist or whatever. C'mon. the hyperbole! She (Ms. Scozzafava) is, if nothinig else, in the mold of formerr Congressman McHugh! Now the Democrat, Bill Owens, is from Plattsburgh, a more urban area? small urban by most standards for the rest of the country but this is a rural area including the Ardirondack Mountains etc. But Plattsburgh is also a State University of New York site, which might indicate a more liberal population. I know there is a liberal enclave in the Potsdam-Canton area, another college town.

Tartuffe, I'm keeping my fingers crossed. BTW, they instituted a new paper balloting system versus the old lever type machines, which was universally derided at the church election night dinner tonight. If this ends up being a close vote I think I might be glad for the new system which claims to retain the paper ballots in the event there is a question of the OCR reading of the ballots.

Thanks again for replying to my first top post.

THOTH

http://www.newzjunky.com/

12:57 AM

Hoffman (C) concedes, Owens (D) new congressman from NY-23 with 89% of vote in.

I am SO relieved.

So there, JackDallas!

I hope it is a bellweather for 2010!

THOTH

That is just AWESOME!!!

Hermit, I grew up in Utica and went to St. Lawrence for my undergrad work. Have we met in some former life in some part of upstate New York.

(and I'm proud NY-23 voted in the Democrat over the Conservative!)

Friends of mine were telling me they have been getting all kinds of phone calls urging them to vote for one or the other of the candidates.

posterformerlyknownasnamvet59:

Friends of mine were telling me they have been getting all kinds of phone calls urging them to vote for one or the other of the candidates.

Were they robo-calls? I used to get robo-calls from Bill Clinton all the time.....

I think so. When bush lite was running the first time, I got a huge packet in the mail setting out his record in Texas. I blacked out my name and address with a magic marker and put it back in the mail. I always hoped that his campaign had to pay return postage on it, but probably not.

Hi MaryAnn. It is entirely possible if not likely. Time and space, you know. I grew up in Utica as well, OLOL '65 and ND '69, if you know what that means. My son went to Clarkson for a couple years before transferring to Potsdam State. Have friends in Potsdam-Canton area. I've been in the TI region for the last 30+ years. Lived in Utica at Higby and Genesse 61-68 then to New Hartford. Any possible connection? I should probably learn how to use the Fray email function, Huh?

I went to Wetmore in Utica for elementary + St. Stanislaus Church (just wrote a memoir about them) and to Whitesboro jr-sr hi for 7 - 12 a few years before you. Lived on Whitesboro Street in Yorkville when I went to Whitesboro.

When I went to St. Lawrence (got a tuition scholarship from Niagara-Mohawk, where my father worked), my parents moved to New York Mills (both second-generation Poles) near Hapanowicz Meats. Isn't ND a block away from Hap's?

When I went home summers, I'd spend lots of time at various places in New Hartford. (My band director in HS, Don Cantwell, used to direct the summer concerts in the park there. I'd go to a local church there to play Scrabble on Thursday nights. The NH Mall. Meals at Casa Too Mucha.)

Utica -- a great place to grow up in.

I've been in the TI region for the last 30+ years.

What does TI mean? Thousand Islands??

That's funny! ND is not far from Hap's, at least back in the day. Maybe a mile or two. I'm guessing. I dated a girl in HS from Whitesboro. She went to UCA. Her mom was Polish, made the best Polish food! Galumpkis and Chruschikis (sp?). I recall a near riot after a ND-Whitesboro basketball game in maybe 1968. ND came from 8 behind to win in the last minute or so. I lived 2 blocks from the New Hartford line on Genesee St, and spent a lot of time at the New Hartford shopping center, and the bowling alley on Campion? St. Dad took me to lunch a few times at Casa Too Mucha 5-10 years ago. Meatball and sausage tunnels at Cavallo's. In the early 70's went to Dowling's on Rt.5 near Westmoreland for Matt's Premium. The Devereaux in downtown Utica. Another bar downtown I can't remember the name. Listening to Driving Sideways (friends' band.)

Utica/New Hartford has changed a lot. Very built up. What used to be fields between French Rd. GE and ND is now all professional buildings.

Thousand Islands, yes. I live near Alex Bay.

MaryAnn:

hermitonthehill@live.com

After my last post, I remembered that two of my aunts live just off Sunnyside, which, as I remember, is across Genesee and up a few feet from Higbey. So I've probably passed your old home several times hundreds of times over the decades.

Thanks for your e-mail, hermit, but I'm trying to cut back on Internet time. Plus, I don't like to get involved in the Slate underground (e-mailing).

See ya 'round the Procrastination board again.